Quarterback Mike Bobo, pictured in October 1997 in a game against Kentucky, has agreed in principle to be Colorado State’s next head coach. (Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

As the Post’s Terry Frei reported Monday afternoon, the Colorado State Rams have reached an agreement in principle with Mike Bobo, Georgia’s offensive coordinator, to be their new head coach. Bobo, 40, would take over a program that Jim McElwain guided to a 10-2 record and a spot among the top 25 in both the AP and USA TODAY coaches’ polls numerous times throughout last season.

A Georgia native, Bobo was a quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1994-97, and ranks among their most prolific passers of all time. He is No. 3 among Bulldog QBs in passing efficiency rating in a season (155.80 in 1997) and tops in completion percentage in a season (65.03 percent, 1997). He also ranks No. 5 in career touchdown passes (38) and still holds the school record for most consecutive completions to start a game (19), which he achieved in the 1998 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.

And before all that, he was a star at Thomasville High, where he was named the state’s high school player of the year in 1993 and. Check him out in 1992, when Thomasville faced the Peach County Trojans in the 3A state quarterfinals (he’s No. 14).

As the Colorado State Rams are in Nevada, finishing up preparations for Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl, the process of finding a replacement for Jim McElwain is continuing. President Tony Frank, interim AD John Morris, plus DHR International consultants Glenn Sugiyama and Pat Richter, have managed to mostly keep the lid on the proceedings. That’s a prerequisite for search firms, as much as possible, because one of the reasons for using them is to maintain privacy and, well, plausible deniability … as in, no, I haven’t heard from anyone at (Fill in name of school). The other layer is agents. Consultants and search services also help lessen the chance of embarrassment on both sides, with the goal of keeping things as quiet as possible and as much as possible preventing candidates (or schools) from appearing to be “rejected.”

But on Wednesday, Georgia AD Greg McGarity confirmed to Georgia.247sports.com, among others, that CSU was interviewing Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. That came out because Bobo, as is required in his contract, notified head coach Mark Richt. Bobo, 40, was a Georgia quarterback from 1993-97, joined Richt’s staff in 2001 and was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in 2007.

The catch here is that the interviews at this point are considered preliminary, with DHR and a small group of additional CSU insiders charged with screening and vetting possible candidates — a number to be determined — to move along to the next step.

When some reacted to the news of Bobo’s interview with the assumption that he is going to be the Rams’ next coach, that was considerably premature and even a bit naive. This preliminary interview came to light. He might become the Rams’ next coach, but this is part of a bigger picture.

Frank isn’t yet involved and presumably won’t be until final interviews. Read more…

Former CSU coach Steve Fairchild recruited many of the players that Jim McElwain eventually coached to a 10-win team. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Jim McElwain deserves all the credit in the world for turning around Colorado State’s football program in three years.

But once McElwain gets settled in his new office at the University of Florida, he ought to send a handwritten thank you to his predecessor at CSU, Steve Fairchild, for recruiting so many talented players that McElwain inherited in 2012.

Players that starred under McElwain’s watch, but were recruited by Fairchild comprise quite a list. They include:

CSU is looking for a successor to Jim McElwain. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

There are two searches going on at Colorado State — for an athletic director to replace Jack Graham and a football coach to succeed Jim McElwain — and the school is using the same search firm, DHR International, as consultant for both.

Interim AD John Morris said at the Thursday news conference following McElwain’s departure that there would be no search committee for the coaching opening. “President Tony Frank will be leading the search for for our head football coach and I will be intimately involved in that with him,” Morris said.

Morris said of using a search firm: “We’re still finalizing details on that.” Read more…

Dave Baldwin, Colorado State’s offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and will lead the team at its upcoming bowl game. Here he’s at the Rams’ indoor practice on the afternoon of Jim McElwain’s departure. Garrett Grayson is at left, and that’s Rashard Higgins at the right, just over Baldwin’s shoulder. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The case for Dave Baldwin, the Rams’ interim head coach for the upcoming bowl game, is not just based on the man himself, but also the concept of continuity and stability.

With president Tony Frank and interim athletic director John Morris conducting the search for Jim McElwain’s successor, it’s reasonable — and even advisable — to see who might be out there, whether the predictable candidates or even an unconventional one or two.

That includes (but isn’t limited to) assistants Tony Alford of Notre Dame and Billy Gonzales of Mississippi State, both former CSU players; and Matt Lubick of Oregon, Sonny Lubick’s son.

I’ve gotten indications that Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost is inclined to wait and be picky, even among power conference jobs, and is considered unlikely to be interested in the CSU position. The natural job for him, at his alma mater, Nebraska, went to Oregon State’s Mike Riley.

But after checking out who might be interested, or be talked into being interested, and fielding calls and communications from those advocating for their clients or staff members, CSU could weigh everything, decide to strike “interim” from Baldwin’s job title and be in good shape.

After McElwain’s three-season stint, the Rams have a good thing going.

Former CSU tight end Crockett Gillmore of the Ravens and former CSU center Weston Richburg of the New York Giants both weighed in:

The buyout settlement, as noted elsewhere, was $3 million over six years from Florida, $2 million “from Jim McElwain,” plus a $2 million guarantee for a CSU-Florida game from 2017-20.

McElwain’s contract called for $7.5 million in a lump sum paid within 30 days. That was his initial buyout, and it could have gone up if McElwain met certain “achievements” and got additional salary bumps — beyond basic annual raises — in the five-year deal that had annual rollovers that could be triggered by either side.

CSU is not getting a check for $7.5 million by early January. The $5 million will come in over a period of six years. The game at Florida is an asterisk. CSU probably would have had a “paycheck” game in there somewhere, anyway.

When news of his hiring by Florida was announced Thursday, many of his CSU players took to Twitter. And while many posted congratulatory messages, not all were thrilled with his exit and how it played out:

So our coach couldn't tell us he was leaving. We have to find out through ESPN and the news. #DoWhatsRight huh?

The Jim McElwain Show is now days in the making, according to multiple reports, and the highlights keep piling up. I’m not talking about the actual negotiations with Florida and athletic director Jeremy Foley. I’m not talking about his $7.5 million buyout and his options for getting it reduced.

I’m talking about the behind-the-scenes stuff. The important stuff. The Twittersphere.

On Tuesday, the courtship reached its peak thus far when Foley hopped on a (baller) flight from Jacksonville, Fla., to Fort Collins to meet with McElwain at his (baller) home.

But as soon as Yahoo Sports first reported that Foley was en route to Fort Collins for a face-to-face meeting with McElwain, readers and tweeters went nuts (guilty!). Foley’s flight was tracked, reporters flocked to McElwain’s mansion, and the group was even photographed, Papparazzi-style, while inside the home. (They were doing crazy things, like viewing mountains.)

Garrett Grayson threw for five touchdowns against Wyoming on Oct. 25. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

The Mountain West Conference has named Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson the league’s offensive player of the year and Jim McElwain coach of the year. The defensive player of the year honor went to Utah State linebacker Zach Vigil.

Grayson, the senior from the Orchards area outside Vancouver, Wash., is the fourth CSU player to win the MW offensive player of the year, and he joins Bradlee Van Pelt (2002 and ’03), Matt Newton (2000) and Kevin McDougal (1999).

Colorado State Rams head coach Jim McElwain looks on before taking on the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Stadium. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Let’s for a moment say — and this is all hypothetical — that Florida decides Jim McElwain is its pick to succeed the fired Will Muschamp, whether as the first choice or after someone else has said no.

If Florida and McElwain try to negotiate down McElwain’s initial $7.5 million buyout — which is technically McElwain’s obligation — my reaction would be: Wait a minute! We’ve been told for weeks by some that $7.5 million is petty cash, chump change for Florida, and that it would not stand in the way of Florida hiring McElwain if it really wanted to do so.

CSU president Tony Frank responded to the reports Monday morning with this: “CSU doesn’t comment on speculation about its coaches. The fact that Mac’s name is being tossed around in such discussions is a great tribute to him and his staff and team, and it reflects positively on far our program has come and where it is going.”

Here’s my Sunday night blog on the matter, discussing the fact that so much of the speculation about McElwain — going back at least six weeks and involving several schools — either isn’t aware of or only belatedly acknowledges the buyout, initially $7.5 million, in his five-year contract that also features salary bumps for various “achievements” and annual rollovers that can be triggered by either side. I also go into the considerations that could come into play for McElwain, beyond the prestige of the Florida job itself. And I include links to two earlier columns about McElwain’s future.

Florida officials are denying another report that Mississippi’s Hugh Freeze has been offered the job, issuing this statement: “We will have no comment on the recent multiple reports other than to say that we have made no job offers to anyone and reports claiming that are false.”

Also, interestingly, former Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, now back with New England, behind the scenes has expressed interest in the job.

Colorado State Rams head coach Jim McElwain looks on before taking on the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Stadium on Nov. 28, 2014. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Ever since Feb. 22, 1980 — the “Miracle on Ice” — I never have said never.

But it boggles my mind — and frankly embarrasses me — that so many tossing darts with Jim McElwain’s name on them for job openings either don’t know about his buyout or end up tossing on a one-sentence kicker that essentially comes off as: Oh, really? Guess I better add this.

Colorado State announced the terms of his buyout in the release about his contract extension last summer. This was not a secret unearthed after strategic placement of potted plants on a balcony.

Here it is:

d. Termination by McElwain. At all times during the Term, McElwain shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, without cause, at any time upon prior written notice to the University, except that McElwain shall not, without good cause (such as would be cause for termination for breach by the University), give his notice of termination that is to take effect between July 1 and the last regular season game of the then-current CSU football season. If such notice is given during the foregoing time frame, the termination effective date shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Director, but not event later than the final game (to include any post-season bowl game) of that season.

In the event that McElwain so terminates this Agreement during the Term, because the Parties agree that the harm to the University cannot otherwise be reasonably calculated, McElwain shall pay to the University as liquidated damages, the following amounts (referred to as “Liquidated Damages”)

(i) If such termination occurs on or before December 31, 2018, the Liquidated Damages shall be the greater of: (1) $7,500,000; or (2) an amount equal to McElwain’s total remaining Base Salary (as set forth in Section 4.a. herein and as of the date of termination) for all years and months remaining from the termination date until the Contract Ending Date (as defined in Section 1 herein); or

(ii) If such termination occurs after December 31, 2018, the Liquidated Damages shall be an amount equal to McElwain’s total remaining Base Salary (as set forth in Section 4.a. herein and as of the date of termination) for all years and months remaining from the termination date until the Contract Ending Date (as defined in Section 1 herein);

And the media have the CSU coaches’ contracts, officially labeled “employment agreements.”

Colorado State announced Saturday afternoon that quarterback Garrett Grayson, tackle Ty Sambrailo and cornerback Bernard Blake have accepted invitations to play in two postseason all-star games.

Grayson and Sambrailo are slated to play in the Jan. 24 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and Grayson and Blake have agreed to play in the Jan. 17 East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla.

In the release, CSU coach Jim McElwain said: “This is just a tremendous honor for these young men and for Colorado State University. It speaks to the kind of commitment, hard work and talent that has allowed this team to have such a successful season. Just as it is with every award and honor, they’d be the first to tell that it doesn’t happen without the guys around them, and that’s what makes this team, this family, so special.”

Colorado State running back Dee Hart scores against San Jose State. Tony Avelar, The Associated Press)

FORT COLLINS — It was a busy Tuesday for the scribes (and many others) covering Colorado State football.

First, we conducted interviews with Jim McElwain and the Rams’ players after practice, and by the time McElwain was done explaining which days were which on the real and football calendar this week because of the Friday game against Air Force, I thought it was Sunday and that I’d missed going to church. Tuesday, though, remained the major (and final) day of speaking with players, as usual, so we stockpiled material for the upcoming days. Read more…

FORT COLLINS — Before Colorado State’s Wednesday practice, Rams wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted talked about, among other things, the progress sophomore standout Rashard Higgins has made in his two seasons in the program.

More on that — also including Whitted’s gentle attempts to teach Higgins about Fred Biletnikoff — will be in my Thursday story in the paper and here.

Whitted also talked about the first time he crossed paths with Jim McElwain — when Whitted was a wide receiver with the Raiders, winding down his career, and McElwain was Oakland’s quarterbacks coach in his single-season foray into the NFL, in 2006. The Raiders were 2-14 and head coach Art Shell was fired after the season. That was Whitted’s final season as a player, and he was with Jacksonville from 1998-2001 before joining the Raiders in 2002. Read more…

FORT COLLINS — With Colorado State’s Senior Day coming up at the New Mexico game Saturday, my story on how Jim McElwain accepted and got the most out of holdover players from the Steve Fairchild era — and vice versa — is in the Wednesday paper and online.

Most of the 16 seniors honored Saturday were in the program as true freshmen or redshirt freshmen under Fairchild in 2011.

As noted in the story, no new coach can run off everyone he inherits, in part because he has to field a team before he can make over the roster with several recruiting classes. So I don’t want to make too big a deal of this, but the point is, McElwain not only avoided the Fairchild’s players vs. McElwain’s players schism, he got the most out of the inherited players — as if they were his own.

That’s a lot harder than it sounds, because if holdover players sense the staff literally can’t wait to get rid of them, or simply don’t respect them as players, the chances of getting the most out of them is slim. It’s a bit of a tightrope. In his first three recruiting classes, McElwain’s staff brought in playmakers and difference makers, but he had no problem with accepting the holdovers who earned his trust.

I wasn’t able to get comments from more than two seniors — cornerback Bernard Blake and wide receiver Charles Lovett — in the story. Read more…

FORT COLLINS — Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins, Colorado State’s standout sophomore wide receiver, Monday was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, bestowed upon the top receiver in the country by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

The award is named after former Florida State and Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff.

CSU issued the news shortly before Jim McElwain’s Monday noon news conference, but it quoted him in the release.

“This is a great honor for Rashard Higgins and for our entire program,” McElwain said. “Rashard would be the first to tell you that it’s not about him, but about the team. We still have a lot of work to do, and not only Rashard but the entire team knows what kind of effort and attention to detail it has taken to get to this stage. We’ll get back to work today with a great day of preparation for Senior Day on Saturday.”

Higgins also was quoted in the release.

“It was very exciting to hear this news this morning,” said Higgins. “It shows how much hard work really does pay off, and makes me think how blessed I am to have great teammates and coaches. I set high goals for myself and our team, and those goals can only be achieved with everyone doing their part. To be in this position is a dream come true.”

McElwain and Biletnikoff both were on the Raiders’ staff in 2006. CSU receivers coach Alvis Whitted was a Raiders receiver from 2002-06.

“Alvis Whitted played for Freddie,” McElwain said. “You talk about a great guy, now. (There are) some great stories there … He’s one of the great all-time classics, a guy deserving of having an award named after him.”

Biletnikoff Award founder Walter Manley II notes that there are 265 voters — including college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers — who determine the winner, with the FanVote on the award’s web site coming into play essentially as an additional vote in the voting for 10 semifinalists in the first round, three finalists in the second round; and one winner in the final round.

The three finalists for the award will be announced on Monday, Nov. 24.

Announcement of the winner will be part of ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 11.

FORT COLLINS — My story from the Colorado State football camp during bye week is here.

In it, Jim McElwain said that the Rams already are being taken more seriously on the recruiting trail.

In addition to what’s in the story, he said: “We’re out two classes already, and that’s how we do it, that’s the system that we brought here. We can’t talk to (underclassmen) yet or any that kind of stuff, but obviously the evaluation period, where we’re able to sit down as a staff and watch film, that’s huge and we get a lot of that done this week as well.”

McElwain said recruiting to CSU still involves realism, on several levels.

“Let’s face it, if a guys interested in 35 different uniforms and different colored helmets and whatever, they’re probably not going to get along with the philosophy I have or we have here, that we’ve established,” he said. “We’re looking for the right fit for Colorado State University and there are a lot of factors that go into that, not just being a good player.”

McElwain also smiled and said, “With the budget we have, I had to make sure we bought our tickets a month in advance for recruiting because it saved. We don’t have the private planes, ‘Hey, by the way, I need to run over here.’ That isn’t going to work. There are certain things you have to do planning at a place like this. You’ve got to plan ahead and all that stuff counts.”

Garrett Grayson threw for five touchdowns against Wyoming. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

FORT COLLINS — Garrett Grayson knew he was going to be asked, whether by his coach or pesky media members.

So the Colorado State quarterback, who had no idea who Willis Reed was when Jim McElwain alluded to the former Knicks center’s gutty effort in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals Saturday night in San Jose, had done his homework before practice Tuesday.

“I Googled it and everything, so we’re good,” Grayson said after practice.

Then he was told that McElwain had just brought up a ’70s television character, Fred Sanford, when talking about how Grayson looked Tuesday. (“He had some Fred Sanford moments…”) So now Grayson has more homework to do about “Sanford and Son”.

On the injury front, Grayson said of the groin injury that hampered him during the win at San Jose State: “I’m fine. I’m limited, as you guys obviously have seen, but it’s gotten better every day. Where I’m at compared to where I was Sunday, it’s completely night and day difference. Sunday I was having a hard time running around and all that stuff, and out here, I’m jogging around, throwing, everything. I’m not like Saturday, where I was throwing off one leg and things like that.”

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.